Yan Bingqin said seriously: “Lu Lu, Commander Xie should be sincere. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have specially sent a message through an intermediary, saying that he is currently on a mission, but if I’m willing, he can personally come later to discuss this matter.
I’ve seen reports about Commander Xie in the newspapers. He is a highly respected officer, with an impeccable character. He’s tall, even more handsome than your father, and he seems suitable for a stable life.”
Yan Bingqin couldn’t help but recall what happened more than ten years ago when she had just married Ning Tie Gen and followed him to the military base for a short period.
At that time, Commander Xie had suffered a leg injury and was bedridden.
Ning Tie Gen asked her to deliver meals to Commander Xie every day and to try to get on his good side.
Yan Bingqin obeyed. She even took the initiative to help him wash clothes and clean.
For an entire month, they barely spoke, but she kept his home very clean and orderly.
Yet, even now, she still found it puzzling.
At that time, Xie Lisheng was only a company commander, but he was already extremely strict—he often scolded people until they cried.
However, he never scolded her. Every meal she brought was finished completely.
But he never made eye contact with her. In fact, whenever she spoke, he would only selectively respond.
On the day her care ended, he firmly gave her a sum of money as thanks and insisted she keep it as private savings, telling her not to let Ning Tie Gen find out, otherwise she would be in trouble…
Thinking back on it now, Yan Bingqin still could not understand his intentions.
Yes, Commander Xie was indeed outstanding. Even now, despite his age, his charm had only increased.
Perhaps he admired her ability to take care of things?
But when Yan Bingqin looked at herself, she gave a bitter smile.
“Lu Lu,” she said softly, “I understand what you mean. If I marry Commander Xie, we could leave this place full of chaos, and he is indeed a reliable man to depend on. But I’m like this now—so overweight. If he meets me in person, he might regret it. That would only make things awkward for me.”
Ning Lu held her hand firmly.
“Mom, don’t worry. As long as you agree, we’ll lose weight together! Nothing in the world is difficult if you set your mind to it. I promise I can help you slim down. You just need to tell me—do you really want to marry Commander Xie?”
After thinking carefully for a while, Yan Bingqin replied:
“I do. Rather than staying here and being harmed by those vicious and ignorant people, it’s better to go somewhere new and start over.”
Ning Lu smiled brightly.
“Alright, Mom. I’ll send a telegram to Commander Xie. Tomorrow after you’re discharged, we’ll start handling everything at home—and we’ll begin losing weight too.”
After she spoke, Yan Bingqin suddenly felt a little regretful. Lose weight? Both she and her daughter were over a hundred jin in weight—how could they possibly do it?
But before she could even voice her hesitation, Ning Lu had already rushed off to send the telegram.
Yan Bingqin sat up in bed, her round face still delicate and beautiful despite her fullness. For a moment, she was lost in thought.
In truth, she and Ning Tie Gen had spent very little time together over the years; their relationship had been more like polite respect than intimacy.
Her gratitude toward him came from the fact that he had rescued her from her adoptive family and given her a stable home.
Over the years, he had also sent money back regularly, and she remembered that kindness.
But what she could never understand was this: even when she was young, slim, and beautiful, whenever Ning Tie Gen returned home on leave, he never touched her.
Meanwhile, Ning Lu had already rushed to the telegraph office.
She queued up and sent a telegram to Commander Xie with only two words:
“Agreed.”
Once Commander Xie received it, he would reply, and after communication was established, her mother could speak with him on the phone. Then they could arrange for her to move with the military unit.
Ning Lu knew that Commander Xie was a very good man.
In her previous life, when she was on the brink of drowning, she had once seen him after he finished a mission, coming specifically to look for Yan Bingqin.
Ning’s uncle had lied to him, saying Yan Bingqin had been unfaithful and committed suicide. Commander Xie refused to believe it and even struck him in anger.
Later, he searched across half a mountain and found the remains of Yan Bingqin and her daughter, taking them back and burying them properly with a tombstone.
But not long after, Commander Xie died in a battle.
In this life, Ning Lu wanted to change all those tragedies.
She hoped her mother and someone like Commander Xie could live normal, happy lives.
Lost in her thoughts, she didn’t notice the chaos breaking out at the entrance of the telegraph office.
When she finally looked up, she saw a vicious man holding a knife, rushing toward her and grabbing her from behind.
“Everyone back off! Or I’ll kill her!”
The crowd screamed in panic.
A sharp pain came from her neck—blood was already trickling down as the blade pressed against her skin.
People backed away, shouting for the man to let her go.
Then a tall, upright man stepped forward from the crowd.
He stood like a pine tree—steady and imposing. His features were sharp and handsome, wearing a military green uniform. He narrowed his beautiful eyes, then calmly placed his gun on the ground and spread his arms.
“Take me instead. I’ll be the hostage. Let go of this female comrade.”
At that moment, Ning Lu felt as if she had seen a god.
Fear filled her heart, tears welling in her eyes.
The man’s comrades anxiously shouted:
“No, Lao Lu! That bastard wants your life! Take me instead! Tie me up instead!”
The criminal gritted his teeth and sneered:
“I want Commander Lu! One, two, three…”
Ning Lu felt warm blood sliding down her neck.
Terrified, yet filled with rage, she suddenly grabbed the knife from the man’s hand and shouted:
“You still counting? Counting your damn head! Go to hell!”
She slammed the man down using her strength advantage and stabbed wildly at his arms.
Blood splattered everywhere.
People nearby screamed: “She’s killing him!”
Ning Lu was furious beyond reason.
Even going out to send a telegram had gotten her kidnapped—how unlucky could she be?!
She stabbed again and again.
Soon, people rushed in to stop her.
“The female comrade is too strong! Commander Lu, we can’t pull her away!”
Then suddenly, she felt someone lift her away from behind and place her aside.
It was the same tall, shining man.
He held her trembling hands and wiped the blood from beneath her eyes.
“Comrade, calm down. We still need this man alive for investigation. He must stay alive—but I promise he will be punished.”
Ning Lu gasped, slowly forcing herself to calm down.
The man took out a cloth and pressed it against her bleeding neck.
“I’ll have them take the criminal away first. I’ll take you to the hospital.”
Ning Lu quickly said, “No need, I can go myself…”
But then the delayed fear hit her all at once. Her legs went weak, and she almost fell.
The man quickly caught her around the waist.
Everything happened too fast.
Ning Lu froze, heart pounding, looking down at his arm pressed against her chest…
And worst of all—her clothing couldn’t hold under the pressure. A button popped open right in front of him.
Just as a flash of pale skin was exposed, he immediately pulled her into his arms.
“Comrade, your neck is bleeding—you’re going into shock.”
Ning Lu: “…”
She closed her eyes, expression blank, offering a forced, silent smile.